Speed-controlling mechanism for revolving doors.



G. G. BLIGKENSDERFBR.

SPEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REVOLYING noons.

APPLICATION FILED MALE. 29, 1909. RENEWED JUNE 6, 1911. 1,014,997

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

' same.

the doors.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrio.

GEORGE c. BLICKENSDERFEROF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SPEED-CONTROLLTNG MECHANISM FOR REVOLVING D OORS.

Application filed March 29, 1909, Serial No. 486,528. Renewed June Doors, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the This invention relates to certain improvements in speed controlling mechanism for revolving doors.

Revolving doorscomprising a plurality of sections or divisions are now widely used. As ordinarily constructed, these doors are mounted on shafts or pivots which permit them to rotatefreely, the doors being .put in motion by the persons passing through Such doors are liable to cause injuries to persons passing through them,

due to the factthat some one, 1n passing through, unduly accelerates the movement of the door, thus causing some other person who may also be'passing through it to be struck by the section or division of the door behind him. In many places Where such doors are in constant .use because of the numbers of persons pa'sslng through them,

such, for instance, as in stores, hotels, etc,

1n order to prevent such accidents the services of an attendant are required whose sole duty it is to watch the door and prevent any undue acceleration of its movement. The services of such attendants are a considerable source of expense, particularly where a large number of-doors are in use. 1

The present invention has for its object to provide a suitable controlling means by which the rate of movement of a revolving door may be automatically controlled, thus preventing accidents due to undue accelera tion of its movement.

With this and other objects-not specifically referred to in View, the invention consists in certain constructions, and'in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, partly in seotion,a revolving door provided Specification of Letters Patent.

Patente dJan. 16,1912. a, 1911. Serial no. 631,568.

with the improved'speed controlling means. Fig. 2 is a sectional top plan view, the section being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a part of the speed controlling mechanism. V The drawings illustrate an ordinary revolvingdoor construction embodying four sections or divisions 1, 2, 3, 4. In the par ticular construction illustrated, the door is provided with a central rotating stud or shaft 5 to which the divisions *1 and 3' are immovably secured. The sections 2 and '4 are hinged to' the'shaft by hinges 6 and 7, respectively, this construction permitting the sections 2 and 4 to be folded back onto the sections land 3 when desired. The sections 2 and 4 are held in operative position-by means of chains 8, 9 .-and.each sec tion is shown as provided with a rail, as 10,

'tobe grasped by persons passing through .floor and the upper journal being stepped in a socket 13 in a plate supported on sills 14 above the ceiling 15 of the door opening. The construction so far described is an ordinary one, and it is to be understood that any other construction of revolving door may be substituted therefor, as the inven-' tion is not confined to use with any particular type of revolving doors.

Constructions embodying the invention will include a speed controlling device by which the rate of movement of the door is automatically controlled. \Yhile the details of'construction of this speed controlling device may be widely varied, in the best constructions embodying the invention, it will includea governor mechanism. The particular I form of governor mechanism employed may be varied, but as shown the governor is, in its general features, of the ordinary centrifugal type comprising a pair of bell-cranks 16,17, the arms 16 being provided with balls 18, as is usual. In the particular construction illustrated, these bellcranks are pivoted at 19 to ears 20 formed in one piece with a hub 21.

When a governor device is employed, suitable connections will be provided whereby the governor may be. operated by the door itself. While these connections may vary, in the construction shown, the hub 21 V 1 is secured to a shaft 22 supported in the arm 23 of a two-armed bracke 23-24 mounted on one of the. door-se 'ons, as 4. The upper end of the shaft 22 is provided with a small gear or pinion 25 which meshes with a stationary gear 26 secured in place above the door. In the particular construction illustrated, screws, as 27, pass through the gear and the ceiling of-the door opening and are threaded in openings in the plate 13 before referred to.

.Const-ructions embodying the invention will include means whereby the governor mechanism when employed will be made effective to control the rate of movement of the door. While these means may be varied, in the particular construction illustrated, they include a brake mechanism comprising a flange 28 extending from a hub 29 supported in the arm .24 of the bracket 23'24 which is mounted on the door. Where this flange construction is employed, it may, ifdesired, be faced with fiber, as 30, or other suitable substance, for increasing the friction. Inthe particular construction illustrated, the shaft 22 is surrounded by a sleeve 21-, the lower end of this sleeve being provided with a flange 32 overlying the flange 28, this sleeve, as shown, being connected to the shaft by a spline connection, as 33, this construction is of such a character causing the sleeve to turn with the shaft but permitting it to have a lengthwise movement thereon. The upper end of this sleeve is provided, with recesses 34 which are engaged by the arms 17 of the governor bell-cranks before referred to. a

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description of the construction. The governor will, of course, be arranged to permit the rotation of the'door at a predetermined speed. Should it be attempted to move the door at an increased speed, the governor balls will fly out forcing the sleeve 31 and its flange 32 down against the fiber facing shaft 22. The rbtation of the gear 25 will thus be checked and this in turn checks the movement of the door.

It will be observed that the construction is exceedingly simple, and, furthermore, it that it can be readily applied to the revolvin doors now in use.

As has been indicate changes and variations may be made in the construction by which the invention is carried into effect. The invention is not, therefore, to be con; fined to theparticular construction herein- 30, this braking the before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

What'is claimed is 1. The combination with a door mounted to revolve, of a speed controlling device, and connections between said device" and the door whereby the rate of movement of the door is automatically controlled.

2. The combination with a door mounted to revolve, of a speed controlling device carried by the door, and connections between said device and the door whereby the rate of movement of the door is automatically controlled.

3. The combination wit-h a door mounted to revolve, of a governor mechanism, operating connections between the door and said mechanism, and means whereby the governor'mechanism controls the rate of movement of the door.

4. The combination with-a door=mounted to revolve, of a governor mechanism mounted on the door, operating connections be-- tween the door and said mechanism, and

means whereby the governor mechanism 1 controls the rate of movement of the door.

5. The combination with a door mounted to revolve, of a governor mechanism, operating connections between the door and said mechanism, a brake for the. door, and connections between the governor mechanism and the brake.

6. The combination with a door mounted to revolve, of a governor'mechanism carried by the door, operating connectiOnsbetween the door and. said mechanism, 'a brake for the door, and connections between the governor mechanism and the brake.

7 The combination with, a door mounted to revolve, of a centrifugal governor, a friction brake mechanism for the door, operating connections between the bra e mechanism and the governor, and between the door and the ov'ernor.'

8. The combination with a door mounted to revolve, of a bracket secured to the door, a centrifugal governor supported in the bracket, means whereby thedoor drives the governor, and a brake mechanism for the door thrown into-operation by the governor when the speed of thedoor is excessive.

In testimony my hand, in't witnesses. I y v i GEORGE G. BLIGKENSDllB-FER. Witnesses:

J Alvin's Q. RICE, A. Warm.

whereof, I have hereunto set e presence of two subscribing 

